West Somerset Express

The unofficial on line newsletter of the West Somerset Railway

Issue 34 – May 2005

Issue 27 - October 2004  Issue 28 - November 2004  Issue 29 - December 2004

Issue 30 - January 2005  Issue 31 - February 2005  Issue 32 - March 2005

Issue 33 - April 2005

West Somerset Express homepage

This page is part of the newsletter archive, photos of the year on the line can be seen on

WSR 2005  Spring Diesel Gala 05  Spring Steam Gala 2005  Autumn Steam Gala 2005

 

 

The West Somerset Railway - Independent Railway of the Year 2004

 

Dates for your diary

30 April:- Fish & Chip Special from Bishops Lydeard

2 May:- WSRA Taunton Group - Special steam train trip from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren and Williton to view Braunton etc. together with an update on WSR plans from Mark Smith (WSR plc MD) and Humphrey Davies (WSRA Chairman) Meet at 7.15pm.

6 - 8 May:- Spring Diesel Gala

14 May:- Fish & Chip Special from Bishops Lydeard

14 May:- "Atlantic Coast Express" from Watford to Minehead

21 May:- Country & Western Evening by steam train from Bishops Lydeard

31 May:- WSRA Bristol Group - "The Welsh Highland Railway" - Tony Ward

 

Regular services are running daily in May (except Mondays and Fridays 9,13, 16, 20 & 23 May)  Train Timetables and other Services on www.wsr.org.uk has full details for the year.

 

Spring Diesel Gala

This is the next big event on the WSR, it will be held on 6-8 May, the Highlights of the Gala include:

-Class 03's - Minehead based D2133 and Williton based 03119 will 'top and tail' the
Bishops Lydeard-Norton Fitzwarren 'Shunter Shuttle' on all three days.
-The event will see a return to traffic for D7017 and D9526 following repair
work.
-There will be a chance to ride behind newly repainted Class 25 D7523.
-Goods trains, including a yard shunt at Dunster.

-13 locos and an HST in action.


From the Visiting locos:

-First visit of Class 73's to Minehead.
-HST action on the Saturday and Sunday.
-The return of a Class 50 to the railway for the event.

LOCOS:

Visiting Locomotives:

-Two GB Railfreight Class 73's. (First visit of the Class to Minehead)
-A Freightliner Class 47 or 57
-Class 50 50007 'Sir Edward Elgar'

-Class 45 45112
-Class 37 37190
-Class 31 31271 'Stratford 1840-2001'
-First Group HST 5 car set Saturday and Sunday, 40 mile diagram, formation TGS-TS-TRSB-TF-TF.

Home Fleet Locomotives:

-Hymek D7017
-Class 14 D9526 working the 'Heritage Freight Train' and the 'Dunster
Goods'.
-Class 33 D6566/33048
-Class 25 D7523/27173
-Class 03's 03119 and D2133

-Thursday 5th May should see Class 03 D2133 work to Williton from Minehead
before proceeding in tandem to Bishops Lydeard with 03119 providing a very
interesting sight!  Further details on this when known.

-The workshops/yards of the Diesel and Electric Preservation Group as well
as the Heritage Centre at Williton will be open to the public on all three
days.

-A souvenir booklet including loco diagrams will be available from WSR
stations during the event for £2.50.
 

Further details on www.wsr.org.uk and DEPG

 

Norton News

The WSRA Board is pleased to be able to announce that CONDITIONAL Planning Approval for a turning triangle at Norton Fitzwarren has been announced by TDBC. This will allow the construction of a turning triangle in line with the drawings and details previously published...  Further details on www.wsra.org.uk and www.wsr.org.uk

 

Advance News...

Former Southern Railway ‘LN’ Class 4-6-0 No 850 Lord Nelson – will be visiting the WSR in 2005 for running-in following completion of its current overhaul. The express passenger engine, which is part of the National Collection, is nearing completion at Eastleigh Works, and will in due course haul charter trains on the main line. There are no firm plans as yet, but a period of running-in is expected on the WSR.  Details from www.wsra.org.uk

 

The following steam hauled railtours are scheduled to visit or involve locos to/from the WSR in early 2005:-
 

Sat 14-May-2005
The Atlantic Coast Express
Watford, Milton Keynes, Long Buckby, Coventry and Birmingham Int to
Bishops Lydeard, Dunster and Minehead (diesel).
Return Minehead-Worcester Shrub Hill behind 6024 King Edward I, with
diesel Worcester to Watford.

Steamy Affairs
Details from www.uksteam.info/tours

 

 

Volunteers

The line is always looking for new volunteers for just about any task you can think of, from gardener to guard via firemen, signalmen, ticket inspectors, buffet staff, station staff, p-way, S&T...

 

You can join us at any time of year, if you would like to know more please write to: The Volunteer Co-ordinator, The Railway Station, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 3BX, visit www.wsra.org.uk, e-mail the West Somerset Railway Association or Tel: 01823 433856.  If you can't give the time but would still like to support the WSR then you can still join the association.  Details from www.wsra.org.uk

 

Visiting Locos

The visitors at present are:

80136 BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T which is on the line for a long stay.

5553 Pete Waterman's ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie

 

Resident Locos

The lines resident steam locos currently operational are:

5542 ex GW 2-6-2T small prairie

6412 ex GW 0-6-0PT the WSRA's pannier tank.

9351 WSR rebuild as a 2-6-0 mogul of 5101 class prairie tank 5193 is now an established member of the fleet and is going well.

 

Progress continues with the S&D 2-8-0, 53808/88 which is in the works at Minehead, the boiler has passed it's steam test and has been returned to Minehead and refitted into the frames, she is now beginning to really show the progress that has been made.  Work is also progressing well on 34046 Braunton at the WSRA's works at Williton.

 

Large prairie 4160: The overhaul continues to progress well and is running close to budget so far. No predictions of a steaming date yet, but it can't be too far away (mid to late 2005 maybe ?). New livery will be BR lined green with late style crest.

 

7828 Odney Manor is in Minehead Works for her overhaul, there is an appeal for funds for this, see below for more details.  Small prairie 4561 is on display in the Gauge Museum at Bishops Lydeard while she awaits her turn in Williton Works - which it is hoped will be during 2005.  7820 Dinmore Manor, ex GW Manor Class 4-6-0, is also now awaiting overhaul as her boiler ticket has expired.

 

Great news from the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited people who say the Final Push in the long restoration of ex-GWR 2-8-0 no 3850 is well and truly on with a real possibility of a steaming in the Spring of 2005. A return to the West Somerset Railway is expected in April 2005. More help is needed, however, and well-wishers are invited to visit the Dinmore Manor Locomotive Limited website for more details of how to help...   Details from www.wsr.org.uk
 

Diesel Locos

The line's resident operational mainline diesel locos are:

Class 52 D1010 Western Campaigner - currently stopped for repairs

Class 35 Hymek D7017

Class 25 D7523 / 25 173

Class 33 D6566 / 33 048

Class 14 D9526

The other resident Hymek, D7018, is undergoing a major overhaul at Williton.

There's plenty of opportunities if you'd like to be involved with the DEPG's fleet, see their new web site at DEPG

 

Auto trailer 169 Project

The group who own 5542 have launched a new project, the restoration of ex GWR auto trailer 169.  See their web site www.loco5542.co.uk for further details of of this exciting development.  169 is a year older than 178 (which is back on the WSR), slightly shorter but otherwise pretty much the same.  169 has now been moved to Williton where restoration has commenced.

 

This Month's Photos...

...start with diesels on the line in anticipation of the forthcoming Diesel Gala, starting with the ex Virgin HST which will be working during the Gala, it is seen here stabled at Minehead.

HST at Minehead

 

Resident Class 33 D6566 was decorated for a crew member's 18th. Birthday when it was shunt releasing the loco of an incoming through train from Hooton at Minehead on 16 April.  At this particular time with this excursion and the HSTs there were more Virgin liveried coaches than chocolate and cream ones at Minehead!

D6566 at Minehead

 

There won't be a Class 67 at the Gala but I've included this photo of 67014 arriving at Minehead due to the name of its train - West Somerset Express!  Was it named after this newsletter?  Probably not!

67014 arriving at Minehead from Hooton

 

There will be a Class 37 at this year's Diesel Gala, 37190.  Last year's Gala saw 37419 representing the class, in this photo arriving at Minehead double headed with 59103.

37419 and 59103 arriving at Minehead

 

Resident Class 14 "Teddy Bear" D9526, seen here at Stogumber with a goods train, will be in action over the Gala.

D9526 at Stogumber

 

Another resident that will be in action is "Hymek" D7017, seen here at Bishops Lydeard in 2003.

D7017 at Bishops Lydeard

 

Enough of the diesels!!  On 16 April pannier tank 6412 was in action with auto trailer 178 on a special working for the birthday of a railway photographer known as Linesider.  This photo shows the special at Minehead bearing a suitable head board as well as South West Rail Gen's "SWRG on Tour" one which last visited Minehead on a Freightliner Class 47!

6412 on an autotrain at Minehead

 

The opposite end of the scale, 6024 King Edward I is seen over Easter working with the "Bristolian" headboard on a Bishops Lydeard to Minehead train.

6024 leaving Bishops Lydeard

 

A last photo for this issue, another visitor working over Easter was 3440 City of Truro which is seen here arriving at Williton double headed with 6412.

3440 and 6412 at Williton

 

These photos and many more are on West Somerset Railway and West Somerset Railway on the Web..

Note: you need to be connected to the Internet to view these photos. 

 

Funding Appeal for Odney Manor
The WSR Plc have launched an appeal to raise funds to help bring No 7828 Odney Manor back to "active steaming life" on the West Somerset Railway. Cash donations are required and for subscribers, a number of benefits are available. All donations of at least £20 will receive a commemorative Odney Manor certificate; for donations of £200 and £1,000, the certificate plus two tickets for the "Odney Manor Return to Steam Celebration Train" awaits, whilst for £1,000 donations the two tickets are First Class Dining seats plus a trip round the workshops. Top treatment for donations of £10,000 who receive four First Class Dining tickets on the Celebration Train, plus a full day Steam Engineman course driving and firing Odney Manor and arrangements to visit the loco during overhaul. For full details and conditions, look out for the leaflet or ring 01643 704996 for more details.

 

West Somerset Railway Association

Area Group Meetings:

Taunton Group:

In 2005, meetings will be held on the first MONDAY of the month (July & August excepted) at the usual venue – the Great Western Staff Association Club (at the north east corner of Taunton station) – starting at 7.45pm.

 

2 May:- Special steam train trip from Bishops Lydeard to Norton Fitzwarren and Williton to view Braunton etc. together with an update on WSR plans from Mark Smith (WSR plc MD) and Humphrey Davies (WSRA Chairman)  Meet at 7.15pm.

6 June:- Visit to Bristol Panel Signalbox (numbers must be strictly limited, those going will be "drawn" at the May meeting)

 

For the full programme for 2005 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details e-mail

peter.darke@virgin.net .

 

Bristol Group:

The Bristol group meets on the last Tuesday of the month between September and May at the BAWA, Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol starting at 7.30pm for 7.45pm:-

 

31 May:- "The Welsh Highland Railway" - Tony Ward

 

For the full programme for 2005 see West Somerset Railway Association, for further details email.

 

Events for 2005

May 6-8:- Spring Diesel Gala

July 2-3:- Days Out With Thomas

August 6-7:- Steam Fayre and Vintage Vehicle Rally

September 17-18:- CAMRA Real Ale Festival

Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2:- Autumn Steam Gala

October 22-23:- Grand Trains Extravaganza

 

Further details on these and the winter events will be in future issues of West Somerset Express.

 

Groups on the line which would welcome support include:

West Somerset Railway Association

5542 Limited
Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust

Diesel & Electric Preservation Group
Dinmore Manor Locomotive Ltd
4160 Limited

Friends of Minehead Station
Friends of Blue Anchor Railway Museum

West Somerset Steam Railway Trust - icoleby@tiscali.co.uk
 

Telephone the West Somerset Railway on 01643 704996 for contact details of these groups.

 

WSR Links:

West Somerset Railway - an unofficial site full of information and photos of the West Somerset

West Somerset Railway Association - the Association is the main support group on the line.

The Official West Somerset Railway Web Site - for trains times and fares etc.

West Somerset Railway, heritage steam and diesel trains - pages of photos of the WSR.

Diesel & Electric Preservation Group Ltd (DEPG) - the diesel group on the line.

West Somerset Express Archive

wizzer.me.uk is a new site about the West Somerset Railway by a fellow volunteer, Jon Tooke. He often finds odd places to take photos from and even odder things to take them of so check it as it grows!

 

The next issue is due 27 May 2005.

 

 

 

 

© 2005 Steve Huddy.  This newsletter is independent of, and is not officially supported by, the West Somerset Railway plc or any of the affiliated organisations, unless specifically mentioned in the appropriate article. All information is believed correct but neither the publisher nor the Railway can be held responsible for any errors.